Hundreds of collectible monsters, and plenty of awesome bosses along the way.----[[AC: General]]* Facing Legendaries, though technically [[GottaCatchThemAll the goal isn't to]] ''[[GottaCatchThemAll defeat]]'' [[GottaCatchThemAll them...]]* Yes, we all know that beating a Gym Leader is awesome, but to get real satisfaction out of the ordeal, try beating them with underleveled Pokémon. Or take it up a level and do the same thing with the Elite Four and Champion. The Generation V games brought it up a little when the music shifts to an upbeat remix of the classic Pokémon theme when the leader is on his/her last mon.

[[AC:[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Generation I: Red, Blue and Yellow]], plus [[VideoGameRemake FireRed and LeafGreen]] ]]* Mewtwo. [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Generation I]]. You've gone through the Pokémon League, tackled Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, proved once and for all that you're better than [[TheRival Blue]], and now you're at the end of Cerulean Cave. There you see it before you: a single solitary Pokémon. You remember the journal entries from Cinnabar Mansion: the scientists finding Mew and cloning it to make Mewtwo, who proceeded to escape and destroy the laboratory/mansion. This is Mewtwo. Level ''70''. And you can catch it. The only way to ruin that fight is to use the Master Ball, in which case it's an AnticlimaxBoss.** Another way to make it an anticlimax boss is to fight him with a Dark-type in FRLG/HGSS, allowing you to catch him with baseline Poké Balls with total ease, if a bit of a time investment. As Dark-types are unaffected by Mewtwo's Psychic-type offensive moves, almost the only thing you have to worry about is Mewtwo running out of PP.** Then there's the solo battle in ''Pokémon Stadium''. That he challenges you is his way of saying, "Hey. I can beat you and your whole team by myself. Bring it on!" The arena is made of a bunch of transparent crystalline material, and he has music befitting a final boss. And because the balancing issues hadn't been sorted out yet, he stood a pretty good chance of actually wrecking your team all by himself.

[[AC:[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Generation II: Gold, Silver and Crystal]], plus [[VideoGameRemake HeartGold and SoulSilver]] ]]* The TrueFinalBoss of the second generation and its fourth-generation [[VideoGameRemake remakes]]. You've obtained sixteen badges, and defeated every Gym Leader within your reach. Your team of {{mons}} is fully-evolved and totally ready and pumped to kick some ass. You've literally defeated every other trainer in the two regions. Who could possibly be left to challenge you? [[ContinuityNod Who else but]] ''[[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo Red, the protagonist of the previous game]]'', who after five generations still wields the highest-leveled Pokémon in the series. [[note]]His HGSS and GSC teams are the first and fourth-highest leveled trainers respectively, excluding Battle Frontier facilities but including Benga's Challenge Mode team from ''[=BW2=]'', who is tied for second with Barry from ''Platinum''.[[/note]] He's got some of the most famous and traditional Pokémon: the three fully evolved Kanto starters, Snorlax, Pikachu, and either Espeon or Lapras depending on version. As if all that wasn't enough, [[HeroicMime he doesn't even '' say'' anything as you fight him, speaking only in ellipses as a reference to his own silence in the original games.]] It was an incredible way to tie the first two generations together and bring everything full circle. It speaks volumes of how awesome this fight is when there is ''absolutely no dialogue or context involved'' and it ''still'' manages to feel epic based solely on the PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo. To make it even better, the battle theme (which he shares with Lance, the Pokemon League Champion) is a ''driving'' BossRemix of the classic theme song.* To some, ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver SoulSilver]]'' have some of the best battles in the series. [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo Red?]] Check. [[TheRival Blue?]] Check. [[{{Jerkass}} Clair]] [[DualBoss and Lance]] while teamed up with [[TheRival Silver]] Check. [[BigBad Giovanni?]] Check. [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters Too many legendaries to count?]] Check. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment Eusine?]] Sure.

[[AC:[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Generation III: Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald]], plus [[VideoGameRemake Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]] ]]* Tate and Liza in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald]]''. They're the only double-battle Gym Leaders in the main games (rematches in ''Emerald'' notwithstanding) and require the player to push their double-battle strategies to their limits--or to come with one on the spot--if they haven't been LevelGrinding. The battle may take longer than most battles up to that point (even though there are only two Pokémon (four in Emerald), but that's part of the charm of [=RPG=]s bosses for some players.* Steven in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire]]'' (he apparently abdicated his Champion position to Wallace in ''Emerald'', but he remained in the game as an even stronger BonusBoss). Although he was the first FinalBoss in the series to not have a direct connection to the player (as opposed to your rival in the first generation and the below-mentioned Red in generations two and four), he overcame that disappointment with an ''incredibly'' difficult-to-defeat team and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcOIQwqCl7s a kickass battle theme]]. He also had a pretty cool, easygoing personality... and an interior as hard as the Steel-types he uses. Pretty badass.* Some of the later battles against Norman in ''Emerald'' can feel like this. It's not just the thrill you get after taking out his skill-swapping Slaking, which received a negative ability just to keep them balanced. It's what he says after you beat him: ''"<Your Name Here>... What is your dream? My dream... Hahaha...[[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments It has already come true, actually]]."'' To summarize: it's not just beating him, it's that instead of resenting that his child has defeated him multiple times, he's genuinely happy for you.* Fighting [[BigBad Maxie]] and [[TheDragon Tabitha]] at the same time alongside Steven in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokemon Emerald]]'' was pretty cool, and the music only made it better. * The Delta Episode in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which the post-game immediately throws you into. [[spoiler:You're out to stop a giant meteoroid that's hurtling towards the planet, and throughout you have to go through various locations like Meteor Falls, Team Magma/Aqua's hideout, and other parts. But you meet Zinnia, a female Dragon-type trainer with a very cool personality. After everything, you and her arrive at the Sky Pillar, where you catch Rayquaza and it gets Dragon Ascent, a new move introduced that allows it to Mega Evolve without a Mega Stone. Then, you fight Zinnia once more, except this time she comes equipped with two more Pokémon and a Mega Salamence.]] But the true awesomeness comes in right after that: [[spoiler: You take the Team Magma/Aqua suit you used in the Seafloor Cavern '''AND RIDE RAYQUAZA INTO ACTUAL OUTER SPACE!!!!!''' There, you fight Deoxys, and can capture it for your very self. And as a reward for saving the world, you get a [[Heartwarming/PokemonRubyAndSapphire very touching montage]] of moments to watch that unfold.]]* The battle with Wally at Victory Road in ORAS. In the original games, he was just one last trainer before traversing Victory Road/challenging the Pokemon League. Here, he has his own epic battle music, the battleground is a field of red spider lilies and instead of Gardevoir, he's evolved his Ralts into a Gallade, and he can Mega Evolve it too. He gets even better in the Battle Maison, to the point where his team wouldn't look at all out of place in a pro-league tournament.

[[AC:[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Generation IV: Diamond, Pearl and Platinum]] ]]* The Sinnoh Elite Four. Hell, the battle with Cynthia alone. You can't exploit type weaknesses against her Spiritomb, ''because it has no weakness''. Her team is the most balanced of any NPC EVER. A revenge killer, a special wall, a mixed wall, and a sweeper as well. It is telling that this is considered the best of the champion fights in the series. She fights like an actual player, with a much more balanced team than any other NPC in the series.** Cynthia is generally improbably cool. Not only she has a kickass well-trained team, an awesome battle track, but she is an appealing character as well, walking around and helping the player character because she thinks newbies are cool.** Cynthia was so cool they added her in as an optional battle in ''Black and White'' and ''Black 2 and White 2''.* [[KnightTemplar Cy]][[BigBad rus]] in the [[EldritchLocation Distortion World]] in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Platinum]].'' You're at the end of a confusing world where the laws of physics as you knew them have no meaning, led through the puzzles by [[OlympusMons Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf]], and before you get to go capture [[EldritchAbomination Giratina]], you gotta beat a guy who, if you fail, will [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt destroy existence]] and remake it in his own image as a world [[EmptyShell without emotion, thought, or free will]]. Just that alone should point to how epic the buildup is, and the boss usually doesn't disappoint, especially not with the [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic epic music]].* The Giratina fight following it also is very awesome, due no doubt to the music and just the fact that you're fighting a powerful being that probably isn't too happy with what Cyrus was doing and probably thinks you're part of it. It's also a pretty tough fighter in its own right and won't give up easily.

[[AC:Generation V: [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Black and White]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2 and White 2]] ]]* N and Ghetsis from ''Black and White'' play things a lot more differently than the villains in the other main Pokémon games. They are fought RIGHT after defeating the Elite Four. You first fight the mascot legendary - which respawns if it faints, forcing you to catch it, then you fight N, who has the other version's mascot legendary as part of his team, then you fight six more Pokémon from Ghetsis.** Add the fact that he is in a very short list of villains who have actually obtained a Legendary Pokémon and use it against you. The only other ones to do so? '''[[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Cipher.]]'''** Ghetsis and more specifically, his HYDREIGON. That meta-gaming jerk has a mid-50s Hydreigon [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard (the game mechanics have it evolving at 64)]], plus it's loaded down with SURF, FIRE BLAST, FOCUS BLAST, and... Dragon Pulse?... Anyway, so yeah. It'll just about oneshot ANYTHING it can line up a type weakness against. So your list of types to fight it with are slim. Best option is a PURE Fighting-type, as it is a Dark / Dragon. Barring that, a Water-type with Ice moves (Samurott and/or Jellicent) works, too.** In ''Black 2 and White 2'', Ghetsis is back. His Hydreigon was dumbed down quite a bit[[note]]its moveset is physical-based instead of special-based and is walled by Steel-types, not to mention you have plenty of other options to combat it with thanks to the New Unova Dex[[/note]], and two of his former Pokemon (Bouffalant and Bisharp) were replaced with Poison-types from Sinnoh, but it still makes for a cool fight. His theme was also revamped pretty hardcore, too.* On a similar note, Colress from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', who you fight before Ghetsis. Despite four of his five Pokémon being Steel-type (six in post-game rematches), his Magneton and Magnezone can really mess with you if you lack an answer to them. His other Pokémon can hit hard as well, but he does make for a fun battle, especially with his [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnjAOqQrUp0 technologic and intense battle theme]].* Battling the Champion, Iris, in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2''. After an outstanding battle intro scene, which is the only one the series has had yet to feature full body VS sprites, the battlefield is a bunch of multicolored beams flying through the starry sky. You know you're in for a fun fight when the Champion's first Pokémon is a Hydreigon. ''[[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard Another]]'' [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard underleveled one, no less]], which, in fact, if you're playing on Challenge Mode or a rematch, has the same moveset that Ghetsis' had in the originals [[note]]In a regular initial battle, it has Flamethrower and Charge Beam instead of Focus Blast and Fire Blast[[/note]]. And that's just the beginning. She also has a Haxorus with Dragon Dance and a Focus Sash, along with lots of other strong hitters. While she's not the hardest Champion battle you'll face, it still makes for an awesome fight, especially with the pure undiluted [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic awesome]] that is her [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb9ee9lWSbg battle theme]]. And on Challenge Mode it's [[UpToEleven even more intense]], because her entire team gets redesigned and are given much more powerful movesets consisting of 100-120 and even 150 power STAB moves.** Additionally, on Challenge Mode, she and the entire Elite Four can be considered this, because in addition to them having five Pokémon like they did in previous games prior to Black and White, they all get unusual held items that boost the power of their attacks or accuracy (Wise Glasses, Expert Belt, etc). This one takes an all-out offensive force to be reckoned with.** And while Iris isn't a very prominent character in the story compared to most other Champions before her, special mention goes to her for being a badass as somewhere around the age of the protagonists while rocking a team of dragon and monster themed Pokémon in a crazy battlefield. That is not something a typical player would likely expect for a Champion.* The final round in Pokémon World Tournament Matches, where the battlefield becomes more [[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield flashy and colorful as you progress]], accompanied by a triumphant music track evocative of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. Especially if you're up against your favorite character.* Elesa's revamped gym in ''Black 2 and White 2''. It consists of a gaudy catwalk where you fight supermodels, who add to the funky-fresh mix of the normal gym music when you defeat them (complete with GratuitousEnglish!). It's more of a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments funny]] boss than an awesome boss, but it's still plenty great. * Benga, Alder's grandson also from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' is a pretty awesome fight as well. You battle him at the top of the [[BonusDungeon Black Tower/White Treehollow]] which gives the battle with him a unique background. Getting to him is a long and arduous trek through extremely high leveled trainers with very limited chances to heal. When you finally do reach him, he comes flying at you with three extremely powerful Pokemon with good hold items that are even higher leveled than Iris'. One of them (depending on the version) is even a [[OlympusMons Latios or Latias]]! Finally, during the battle, him and his grandpa's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic heroic and triumphant theme]] is blasting in the background, giving the fight an incredible feeling of grandeur. Oh, and if you defeat him? He rewards you with a ''shiny'' Dragon-type (Gible or Dratini depending on the version)!

[[AC:Generation VI: [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY X and Y]] ]]* The climax of the Team Flare arc. First, the mascot legendary battles. As with Zekrom and Reshiram, it respawns if it faints and forces you to catch it, but in the middle of doing so, you get thrown into an outstanding battle scene, with Xerneas in what looks like a rainbow-ish field, and Yveltal in ''outer space'', with their [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8-ltfbTA2c absolutely mind blowingly awesome battle theme]] to throw on it. Then you fight Team Flare's boss, Lysandre, for the final time, with his Doc Ock-style robotic limbs on his back, on ''[[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield the sun]]''. He's no BW Ghetsis in terms of difficulty, but it's still pretty sick, not to mention you can use your newly acquired legendary to [[CurbStompBattle kick his butt]].** Yeesh, is this guy a joke? Mega Blaziken took all of them down with ease! Oh, wait, a Gyarados? Ah, no worr- ''The foe Gyarados's Gyaradosinite is reacting to Lysandre's Mega Gauntlet!'' And you thought only you could use Mega Evolution. NOPE!

[[AC:Generation VII: [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun and Moon]]]]* The climax of the game. After using the Sun/Moon Flute at the Altar of the Sunne/Moone, [[spoiler:Nebby of all things jumps out of Lillie's bag, flies up and ''evolves into the mascot legendary!'']] This is the first time an [[spoiler:evolving legendary has been introduced,]] and of course, you get to fight and capture them right after. Their battle is fairly easy, but after that buildup, it's still amazing.* The final boss battle against [[spoiler:Aether President Lusamine.]] After you beat her once and chased her into [[spoiler:Ultra Space,]] she decides that she's had enough and [[spoiler:''freaking fuses with a Nihilego'' to become the EldritchAbomination known as the Mother Beast.]] She has a team of rather powerful Pokemon, which are [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard all under totem boosts that boost all their stats.]] Which makes it all the more awesome when you still manage to beat her.* The post-game battles against the [[spoiler:Ultra Beasts]] are amazing, partially because they're under a permanent stat buff, go unnamed when first met and have monstrous stats in one or two regards. It's even better when you finally catch the things that have been giving you trouble for most of the game and [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge sic them on every Pokemon in the area.]]** [[spoiler:Nihilego]] is especially great to battle since [[spoiler:it's responsible for the entire conflict in the game.]] While it had just sat in the background causing events to happen most of the time, most players will learn now that it's perfectly able to hold it's own in battle, with very high Sp. Atk and Sp. Def stats and a typing that's nearly impossible to guess just from looking, [[spoiler:Rock/Poison]].** [[spoiler:Buzzwole or Pheromosa]] are also great to fight since they were in one of the trailers, the former being a MightyGlacier with extremely high physical Attack power, while the latter is a FragileSpeedster who outspeeds everything and has extreme Attack and Special Attack. They can and will punish the unprepared with a flurry of OneHitKill attacks, especially the latter who will be faster than anything you have.** [[spoiler:Xurkitree]] symbolizes a massive DifficultySpike in comparison to the last two: with an insane Special Attack stat (which is further boosted by its aura), Electric Terrain to further boost its attacks, Power Whip to punish people that brought Ground types (because it was pretty obvious what type it is), and due to its Sp. Atk, possibly the most devastating Discharge in the game. This thing can OneHitKill nearly anything, even if it resists Discharge, which makes it all the more amazing to sic it on your opponents after the fight.** [[spoiler:Kartana and Celsteela.]] The former is a GlassCannon that can OneHitKill anything with its insane Attack stat, while the latter is a MightyGlacier with extreme defenses. Unlike [[spoiler:Buzzwole/Pheromosa,]] their battles vary a lot, meaning it's a totally different experience if you got Sun or Moon.** All of these pale to the fifth one though: [[spoiler:Guzzlord.]] The thing has an insane amount of HP, good defenses, and a monumental Attack stat meaning it can tank everything you throw at it while dishing out near instant-death attacks like they're nothing. Combine this with its menacing appearance and you have a monster many [=RPGs=] would be begging to have as a FinalBoss.* The Pokémon League is a massive step up from the previous entries. It's not just that the Elite Four are [[spoiler: people you've met and battled throughout your journey]]. It's not just that [[spoiler:after defeating them, you get to face off against Professor Kukui himself]]. It's not just about the fantastic battle music. The biggest thing is that [[spoiler:by doing this, you are officially recognized as the first Alola League Champion. Kukui wasn't the champion, oh no; he was your first challenger for the title, and every time you enter the League, a new trainer shows up to try and take the title from you. For once in the series, '''you''' get to be the FinalBoss that other trainers aspire to overcome - which also means that the Champion's battle theme is ''your ThemeMusicPowerUp''.]] How does it feel? ''Pretty darn awesome.'' And [[spoiler: Professor Kukui's]] team is one of the first genuinelly decent teams an NPC has ever had, even setting up [[ThatOneAttack Stealth Rock]] right at the start to limit your switches.

[[AC:Spinoff Series (VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon, etc)]]* ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'': The battle against [[spoiler:Primal Dialga]] and the preceding cutscenes in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness]]'' were epic. No arguments.** Although you might not appreciate it that much after [[spoiler:Primal Dialga wipes out your whole team with Roar of Time.]]* In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers PMD2]]'', [[spoiler:battles with Dusknoir seem to be magnets for Awesome Moments.... that is, if you're not busy having a HeroicBSOD from the plot developments.]] [[EnhancedRemake Explorers of Sky]] adds to this with the final secret mission. [[spoiler:[[FutureBadass Grovyle]], [[HeelFaceTurn Dusknoir]], and [[{{Tsundere}} Celebi]] versus Primal Dialga as they all slowly disappear due to the timestream repairing itself. It ends with all of them being revived by [[{{God}} Arceus]] and getting to see the first sunrise of their lives. A perfect end to Grovyle's story.]]* ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonGatesToInfinity'':** The final boss is not a member of the Tao trio, or any of the Generation V Pokemon. It is [[EldritchAbomination the manifestation of all the hate, distrust, and despair of Pokemon the world over]], it can choke a Pokemon to death ''just by being in its presence'', and its attacks go [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm unnamed.]] The battle opens with you not being able to damage it at all, and afterward is when it really unfolds. And the second phase comes accompanied with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGohnLbLz4A an absolutely phenomenal battle theme]]. And you proceed to beat it BY YOURSELF.** Another one is when you and your partner have been separated by [[TheBrute Toxicroak]] as he is pursuing you. When he corners you, you have to fight him ALONE, for the first time in the entire goddamn series.* The final boss encounter in ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger''... was just amazing.** In Guardian Signs, there's the fight against Purple Eyes, who is using the full power of the Golden Armour. You just captured Ed's Mewtwo in a fight that was both extremely tough and seriously awesome, but now you have to do it again with Mewtwo surrounded by an aura of dark energy, which not only increases the power of Mewtwo's attacks, but also counts as an attack in its own right. This is way harder and considerably more awesome.** The BonusBoss Arceus, found in one of the special missions, is just full of awesome. While he's not necessarily hard, Arceus will not hold back in flaunting its godlike powers, [[BeamSpam spamming all manner of laser beams that sweep the field in various patterns]], firing barrages of yellow energy blasts, causing waves of purple lasers to erupt from the ground, and even ''calling down a rain of meteors from above.'' These are some of the most visually-impressive attacks in the entire game, without a doubt.* [[CapturedSuperEntity XD001.]] Becomes an AnticlimaxBoss with the Master Ball, and even without the Master Ball it's easy to KO. Just not to catch.* [[CrazyAwesome Miror B.]] Hard? No. Epic? No. But he's a disco dude with an enormous Poké Ball-colored afro and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHHFc-gIeI the most hilarious]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGI4kSdUOJQ Pokémon battle music ever]]. What's not to like?** If you want an awesome moment, in Colosseum try [[spoiler: Evice]]. Not just for the amazing music, but for the fact that when you work out just how well your key Pokémon fit against his ([[spoiler: Entei beats Scizor, Suicune beats Salamence, Raikou beats Slowking, Espeon beats Machamp, Umbreon walls Slaking to death]]) you realise you've truly mastered the game.* [[spoiler: Mewtwo]] as the final boss of ''VideoGame/PokemonRumble''. [[spoiler: Every time you clear a rank, you can see his silhouette in the background, and you finally find out why in the Rank S Battle Royale... [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere When he comes out of absolutely nowhere]] in the middle of your battle with the Legendary Bird Trio, accompanied by [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic an awesome remix of the original wild Pokemon battle theme]] from [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokemon Red and Blue]], [[ThatOneBoss as he focuses all of his most powerful attacks on you, while swarms of enemy Pokemon try to destroy you themselves]]. This is made even more awesome in Advanced Mode, where his silhouette is replaced by those of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina... And he's still the final boss.]]----